Improvement in game apparatus



P. WEST &'G. 8. LEE; Game Apparatus.

No. 143,047. Patented September-23,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTGE.

PRESBURY WEST AND GEORGE S. LEE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME APPARATUS.

Specificationforming part of Letters Patent No. 143,047, dated September 23, 1873; application filed July 24, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, PREsBURY WEsT and GEORGE S. LEE, of WVorcester, county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Out- Door or Field Games; and we do hereby declare that the following is'a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawing- I Figure 1 represents the field or ground upon which are set the various implements of the game. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the rubbercushioned rail, as used at E and hereinafter described. Fig. 3 represents a sectional view of the spring-board or glancingboard, as used at F and hereinafter described.

a represents the balls used in playing the game. 12 represents the mallets used to drive the balls from place to place. 0 represents the starting-post, from which point the players start their balls; and c c, the post to which they must go before being allowed to return. d represents the numbered arches, under which the players drive the balls in playing the game. E represents the rubber-cushioned rail, against which the player drives the ball to cause it to turn at an angle and pass in another and desired direction, as shown at g g. F represents a thin strip of board set up edgewise, as shown at p 19, against which the player drives a ball with the same purpose and result as against the rubber-cushioned rail.

The implements used in this game consist of wooden balls; wooden mallets; a starting and a turning post, both alike; arches or wickets, each being numbered; one or more rails, with one side cushioned with rubber or faced with wire springs, as may be preferred; or, in place of these, spring-boards or glancing-boards. The balls may be turned from any suitable wood, and should be about three and one-half inches in diameter. The mallets may also be made of wood, and of such size as shall make the head to weigh about the same as the balls against which they are to be used, while the handles should be three feet long. The starting and turning posts to be about two feet long and one inch in diameter,

with one end pointed to drive in the ground, The arches shouldbe made of wire about one fourth of an inch in diameter, and turned so they will form an arch ten inches in width and fifteen inches high; the points may be driven in the ground three or four inches; and to the tops of each arch should be fastened a small tag of metal or other suitable material, on which is stamped or printed a figure to denote the number or score made by the player when he drives his ball under the arch. These numbers may be varied on the different arches, and so arranged as to cause as great diversity as possible in the result of play. The cushioned rails may be made of wood, about six feet long, or shorter, as the case may be, with one side faced with rubber, like the side of a billiard-table; or, in place of that, it may be covered with small wire springs, held in place with twine and cloth over all, though a rubber cushion is the best, as the spring gotten from it is more uniform and reliable. At each end should be fastened on the opposite side from the cushion a pin with point projecting below to drive into the ground to hold the rail in place. The glancing-board may be made of any tough wood, and should be about six feet long, three inches wide, and worked down very thin, so as to spring backward when a ball is driven against it, and, by the return to its natural position, throw the ball off at an angle with the line from which it came. The board should have attached at each end a pin to drive into the ground to hold it in place. The office of this glancing-board is the same as that of the cushioned rail, and takes its place 5 and, while we do not deem it as good for the purpose as the cushioned rail, it has the advantage of being much cheaper and more durable.

The implements should be arranged on the ground or field as follows: The ground having been selected, measure off a space in the direction intended to be lengthwise of the field sixty feet. At each end of this space drive one of the round posts-one to indicate the starting-point and the other to be the point to which the player must drive his ball before allowed to return; then, half-way between the two posts, and on a direct line from one to the other, set the center arches, using any numher, though five arranged as shown in the drawing at B is the best. Having set the center arches, next place half-w ay between the center arches and the two posts-that is, fifteen feet from each post and on theline first drawnanother set of arches, three in number and side by side then, half-way between the arches last set and the two posts-that is, seven and a half feet from each post and on the same line--place another set of arches of two each side by side. This completes the arches belonging to the center or main line. Next, measure from the center arches at right angles with the line first drawn,fifteen feet each way, making a mark at the end of the line for a new starting point. From this last point measure at right angles with the line last drawn, and parallel with the line first drawn through the length of the field, seven and a half feet each way from the last startin gpoint 5 and this will give on each side of the field the location of the four side arches, two 011 each side, fifteen feet apart, and fifteen feet from the center line first drawn. At these points thus located place three arches side by side.

Having set all the arches, next place the cushioned rails or glancing-boards, whichever is used, as follows: Draw a line from the starting-post to a point two feet to the right of the first arches on the right-hand side of thefield. On this line place the cushioned rail or glancjug-board with the cushioned face inward toward the center arches, and the end of the rail or glancing-board directly opposite the second set of arches, counting from the starting-post. Follow this rule on the left side of the field, and, then going to the other end of the field, place the two remaining rails or boards in the same manner.

Having arranged the implements, the play begins; and that player or sideplaying who, in passing round the field and through each set or arches, shall have scored the greatest number (the figure or number on the particular arch under which they pass determining the score) wins the game.

Having described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The rubber or wire cushioned rail E E and glancing-board F F, constructed and arranged as shown, in combination with a field-game apparatus, substantially as described.

PRESBURY WEST. GEORGE S. LEE.

Witnesses:

M. F. HAMMOND, E. II. Snow. 

